Rotary engine.



PATENTED AUG. 21. 1906.

J. F. BRIDGES. ROTARY ENGINE.

PPLIOATION FILED AUG. 15.1905.

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J. E. BRIDGES. RDTARY ENGINE.

APPLIUATIDN FILED um. 1s. 1905.

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JOIIN F. BRIDGES, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application Bled August 15,1905. Serial No. 274,303.

To ,all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN F. BRIDGES, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat Alameda, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and 'I hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin'gfs, forming a part of this specification.

' rhis invention relates to certain improvements in motive engines impelled by a fluid under pressure and to a means of translating the reciprocal action of pistons into rotary motion and force, also relates in the Case of inelastic fluids to a means of' measuring the volume that passes through the engine.

My improvements consist in a plurality oi cylinders and pistons set and acting radially from a center around which they revolve, these cylinders having trunnions through which the impelling iuid is admitted and from which the turning force is transmitted, the pistons on their outward or acting stroke bearing within a guideway set elliptical to the circle of revolution, producing oblique pressure on the pistons and the required torque or turning force, which can be modified by the form of the ellipse, applied as a motive engine to any useful purpose.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple luid-engine to operate with reciprocating pistons, the wearing-surfaces moving at uniform velocity, the operating parts set concentric to produce rotary motion without cranks and above certain velocities by oentriugal force confine strain on the reciprocating parts to one direction, the whole beingrbalanced in all positions.

o these ends I construct motive engines substantially as shown in the drawinfrs iercwith and forming a part of this specification.

Figure I is a front view, partially in section, of a motive en ine constructed according to my invention; ig. II, a central vertical section through the same engine; Fig. III, a rear view of the engine reverse to Fig. I. Fig. IV is a transverse section through the inductiontrunnion on the line a` in Fig. II. Fig. V is a artial section on the same line in Fig. II to indicate adjustment of the parts.

Referring to the drawin s and the numerals of reference thereon, 1 is t e main or supporting frame constituting on its interior an elliptical guideway 2, its section reinforced by webs 3 and 4 and otherwise, if required, and provided with a base-flan e 5.

7 and 8 'are plates boite to the sidesofthe frame 1, having purposes, as hereinafter explained.

9 and 10 are reciprocatin pistons of the usual construction, provide at their outer ends with rollers 12, that bear within :the elliptical guideway 2, resistin and deflecting the thrust of the pistons. hese .rollers 12 are mounted in bearings 13, made inte 'ral with the istons 9 and 10, that haveat t eir outer en s guide-blocks 14, that slide the slots 15, formed in extensions of the cylinder 20, so the turning strain is imparted to the latter and does notfall upon the pistons.

The rear side plate 8 forms a support for the trunnion-shatt 17, from which the power of the engine is transmitted, also contains eduction or exhaust passages 18, through which the spent iluid from the cylinder 20 escapes in the usual manner either into the air or into conducting pipes. Fluid under pressure is admitted through a pipe 22, passes through the ports 24 in the trunnions 23, into the chamber 28, and thence through the port or passage 27 into the cylinder 20, between the pistons 9 and 10.

Around the trunnion 23 is an adjustable shell 2Q, havin a port or passage 33. This shell is turned a handle 3() and held by a plate 32 and is employed to regulate and vary' the point ot induction and cut-oil accordingly as the port or passage 33 is advanced or moved back, as indicated in Figs. IV and V, where the )ort 33 is shown of dierent widths to modi y diilerent oints of admission.

The cylinders 2() are exiiausted by the pistons 9 and 10, uncovering the ports 19 and coinciding with the ports 18 in the side plate 8, as will bc understood, as will also the distribution functions of the trunnion 23, which are common to rotative distributing-valves of the type.

In em V)loying steam as a motive fluid a branchedI exhaust-pipe can be attached to the side plate 8, as indicated in Fig. III, and other modifications made to suit the temperature and nature of the fluid employed, which can be steam, gas, air, or water.

In operatin the impelling Huid is admitted between tie pistons E) and l() when in their inward position or as shown in Figs. I and II, forcing these outward and pressing the rollers 12 against the elliptical guideway IIO 2, which by its Obliquity, except at the centers 16, produces a turning Jforce on the cylinders 20 and the trunnion 17 as the line of ressure varies from a tangent at the point W ere the rollers 12 bear. This turning motion is accelerated and modified by the geometric form of the elliptical guideway 2 and can be varied to produce a motion like a crank or modifications thereof not necessary to be analyzed here. This guideway can be amplified into three or more stages with the number of pistons accordingly. The uideway 2 is, as shown in Fig. I, compose of portions of two ellipses joined to form an apex at opposite points 40. The object of this 'oonstructionis to avoid a dead-center and give quick recovery of the turning moment after passing this point. Said points 40 can be more or less acute, as will be understood, and they constitute an operative feature of much conseqluence in an engine of two pistons only. In t iis manner of operating it will be seen that in operating there are no loose pieces except the bearing-rollers 12, that all bearing-surfaces have uniform speed, and that the centrifugal strain on the pistons will at ordinary jects of my invention, what I claim as new, l

and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a Huid-engine, a plurality of motive pistons and cylinders radially and revolubly mounted within an inclosing guidewav of elliptical form, means to admit an impelling uid between the pistons to force them outward against said elliptical guideway, and bearing-rollers in the outer end of each iston Whose bearings slide in slots forme in extensions of the cylinders, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. BRIDGES.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUrsT, ELMER WICKES. 

